It has also been announced that flight services at Chennai Airport will be cancelled on Saturday.
Published Nov 29, 2025 | 9:11 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 29, 2025 | 9:12 AM
Cyclone Ditwah. (X/ IMD)
Synopsis: The speed of Cyclone Ditwah, which is currently prevailing near the Sri Lankan coast in the southwest Bay of Bengal, has reduced from 10 kmph to 4 kmph. The cyclone is positioned about 520 km south of Chennai and 420 km southeast of Puducherry.
Due to Cyclone Ditwah, a holiday has been declared for schools and colleges on Saturday, 29 November, in Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Kallakurichi, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai, Cuddalore, Perambalur, and the Union Territories of Puducherry and Karaikal.
While in Villupuram, Tanjore, and Trichy, holiday has been announced for schools only.
The speed of Cyclone Ditwah, which is currently prevailing near the Sri Lankan coast in the southwest Bay of Bengal, has reduced from 10 kmph to 4 kmph. The cyclone is positioned about 520 km south of Chennai and 420 km southeast of Puducherry.
The cyclone which claimed 69 lives in Sri Lanka, is likely to reach north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh on Sunday, 30 November morning.
The Meteorological Department has forecast the possibility of heavy rainfall in north Tamil Nadu and delta regions on Saturday. It has also been announced that flight services at Chennai Airport will be cancelled on Saturday.
According to the IMD, an cyclonic alert has been announced for North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and orange alert for south Andhra Pradesh coasts.
The release from IMD noted, “The Cyclonic Storm Ditwah over coastal Sri Lanka and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with the speed of 8 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 0530 hrs IST of 29 November, over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Sri Lanka, near latitude 9.4°N and longitude 80.7°E, about 80 km east-southeast of Jaffna (Sri Lanka), 110 km north-northwest of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 190 km south-southeast of Karaikal (India), 300 km south-southeast of Puducherry (India) and 400 km south of Chennai (India).”
“It is very likely to continue to move north-northwestwards and reach over southwest Bay of Bengal near North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by early Sunday, 30 November morning,” the release added.
The Cyclonic Storm Ditwah [Pronunciation: Ditwah] over coastal Sri Lanka and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with the speed of 8 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 0530 hrs IST of today, the 29th November 2025 over the southwest Bay of… pic.twitter.com/xa2S8fg9rQ
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 29, 2025
Major damage to thatched houses and huts; rooftops may blow off and unattached metal sheets may become airborne.
Damage to power and communication lines.
Major damage to kutcha roads and some damage to pucca roads; flooding of escape routes.
Breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees; large-scale damage to banana and papaya plantations; large dead limbs may fall from trees.
Damage to paddy fields, horticultural crops, standing crops, and orchards due to inundation and strong winds.
Inundation of low-lying areas in coastal districts due to heavy rainfall and flash floods.
Localized flooding of roads, waterlogging in low-lying areas, and closure of underpasses, especially in urban regions.
Occasional reduction in visibility due to heavy rainfall.
Disruption of traffic due to waterlogging and squally winds.
Localized landslides and mudslides; may lead to riverine flooding in some catchments (for riverine flooding information, please visit the Central Water Commission’s website).
Damage to embankments and salt pans.
Coastal flooding and coastal erosion are very likely over the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh & Yanam.
(With inputs from Subash Chandra Bose)
